Stower Signs Backbone Media for PR

San Francisco, Calif. (December 11, 2014) – Stower™, a company dedicated to alternative energy technology and maker of the FlameStower FireCharger, has named Backbone Media as its PR agency of record. Backbone will manage public relations outreach and strategic communications for Stower as it continues to expand into new markets.

“Backbone is ideally positioned to tell our story to both the core outdoor market and a broader national audience,” states Andrew Byrnes, CEO and co-founder of Stower. “We’re initially developing products that work for outdoor enthusiasts and emergency preparedness, but our vision is to be an alternative power provider on a global scale.”

While studying at Stanford’s d.School, friends Andrew Byrnes and Adam Kell saw the need for a distributed power solution in developing countries, where central power grids do not reach rural areas, but almost everyone owns a cell phone. Their answer, which they launched in early 2014, is the FlameStower FireCharger, a compact and lightweight USB charger for small electronics, powered by any heat source, like a stove or a campfire.

Working with local governments and NGO’s, Byrnes and Kell have pilot programs launching in both Ethiopia and Guatemala to integrate FlameStower technology into inexpensive home cooking stoves.

Using a thermoelectric circuit, the FlameStower can charge any USB-equipped small device, from cell phones to cameras. By fully inserting the anodized aluminum blade edge into a fire or other heat source and adding water to the heat-resistant cup, these devices (for example, the iPhone5) can charge to one percent in two to three minutes.

In optimal conditions, FlameStower generates 2.5 watts of power, about half the wattage produced by a standard wall socket. The FlameStower is made from durable aluminum, weighs just 10 ounces and folds into a convenient eight inch by 1.5-inch size.

In addition to the FlameStower fire charger, Stower will launch the CandleCharger at the upcoming Outdoor Retailer tradeshow in Salt Lake City (booth #150).

Founded in 2013, Stower™ is dedicated to delivering power from renewable, alternative sources. Using technology such as thermoelectric generators, Stower sees a future where personal power is generated by a vast array of distributed energy sources, not massive power grids. Stower’s first product, the lightweight, compact FlameStower, powers personal electronics from any heat source. To learn more about Stower, visit www.flamestower.com.

About Backbone Media

Backbone Media is a public relations, media planning and buying, and social media agency that partners with brands to target, engage and inspire the active lifestyle market. For over 16 years, Backbone has worked with leading outdoor gear, apparel, technology, food and beverage brands, as well as tourism destinations around the world. Backbone has offices in Carbondale and Denver, Colorado, and Jackson, Wyoming. www.backbonemedia.net.